Recessive Traits HEAD: Pronounced parietal crest and occiput, Large skull size, Short ears, Fine skull, Light eye, Bulging eye, Overshot/Undershot Bite BODY: Good shoulder, Angulation, Good stifle angulation, Long, reaching gait, Low tail set, No feathering on tail, Kinked tail, Long coat, Longer, straight leg (correlates with light bone) MENTAL: Mild, non-aggressive temperament, Lack of intelligence Dominant Traits HEAD: Low set ears, long ears, long head, wide ear leather, dewlap, dark eye, correct bite, black nose, short face. BODY: Sternum, deep chest, straight top line, straight tail, high tail set, good spring of rib, heavy bone, Achondroplastic short leg with crook (correlates with big bone), compact foot, short coat, weight, body height, poor shoulder angulation, poor stifle angulation, short, choppy gait. MENTAL: Intelligence, shy and/or vicious temperament Dominant and Recessive Traits Dog breeders should understand two concepts: (1) aside from coat length and color, the trits of interest to us are for the most part polygenetic (controlled by many gene pairs), and (2) polygenetic traits are generally composed of a mixed bag of dominant and recessive genes. Although research in canine genetics lags behind that of other species, and some authorities disagree on whether certain traits are indeed dominant or recessive, there are dominant and recessive traits agreed upon by a majority of geneticists and breeders (Willis, 1989, Seranne, 1980). Most of these traits are controlled by numerous gene pairs (polygenetic) and factors such as incomplete dominance and penetrance. For our purpose, the most important task is to familiarize yourself with the list in general and make note of traits you wish to improve in your breeding program. We will publish the list with the next update.